-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A man suspected in the deaths of three people in Panama is now wanted in the slaying of an American woman whose body was found last week , Panama 's national police said Saturday .

The body of Cher Hughes , a native of suburban St. Louis , Missouri , was found Tuesday on the property of William Adolfo Cortez Reese , who is suspected in her death , said Javier Carrillo , director of the national police investigation unit .

Carrillo said Cortez and his wife , Jane , are on the run . Cortez `` may be from Holland . We 're not sure that 's his real identity , '' he said . `` We found a false passport . ''

He said Panamanian authorities are attempting to reach police in Holland .

Hughes , who was in her early 50s , was identified by her husband , Keith Werle , who lives in Panama . A second body -- which has not yet been officially identified -- was found near Hughes .

`` We believe the motive is that he -LRB- William Cortez -RRB- is killing people to take their property , '' Carrillo said .

He added that authorities do not know Cortez 's whereabouts , and have not received any tips from the public .

Werle said he was on Cortez 's property , a massive piece of farmland on the island of Isla Colon in the western province of Boca del Toro , as police executed a search warrant . He said his dog led authorities to a shallow grave , where they found Hughes ' body .

Dwayne Cooney , a family friend , said Hughes had lived in Panama for the past decade and owned a hotel , the Casa del Sapo , in Boca del Torro . He described Hughes and Cortez as friends and neighbors .

Hughes had lived in St. Petersburg , Florida , where she owned a neon sign business , before moving to Panama , Cooney said .

CNN 's Nick Valencia , Jackie Castillo and Anna Rhett Miller contributed to this report .

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The body of an American woman is found in a shallow grave in Panama

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The suspect is wanted in three other slayings

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Police say the motive is to kill people for their property